Bible: Genesis 44:1-34

The Final Test

44:1He instructedtheservant whowas overhis household, “Fillthesacksof the menwith as much foodasthey cancarryand puteach man’smoneyin the mouthof his sack.44:2Then put1my cup– the silvercup– in the mouthof the youngestone’s sack, alongwith the moneyfor his grain.” He didasJosephinstructed.2

44:6When the man12 overtookthem, he spokethesewordsto them.44:7They answeredhim, “Whydoes my lordsaysuchthings?13 Far be itfrom your servantsto dosuch a thing!1444:8Look, the moneythatwe foundin the mouthsof our sackswe brought backtoyou from the landof Canaan. Whythen would we stealsilverorgoldfrom your master’shouse?44:9If one of us has it,15 he will die, and the rest of uswill becomemy lord’sslaves!”

44:10He replied, “You have suggestedyour own punishment!16 The onewhohas it will becomemy slave,17but the rest of18 youwill gofree.”1944:11So each manquicklylowered20his sackto the groundand openedit.44:12Then the man21 searched. He beganwith the oldestand finishedwith the youngest. The cupwas foundin Benjamin’ssack!44:13They all toretheir clothes! Then each manloadedhis donkey, and they returnedto the city.

44:18Then Judahapproachedhim and said, “My lord, please allowyour servantto speaka wordwith you.31Please do notget angrywith your servant,32foryou are just likePharaoh.3344:19My lordaskedhis servants, ‘Do you havea fatherora brother?’44:20We saidtomy lord, ‘We havean agedfather, and there is a youngboywho was born when our father was old.34The boy’s35 brotheris dead. He is the onlyone of his mother’ssons left,36and his fatherloveshim.’

44:30 “So now, when I returntoyour servantmy father, and the boyis notwith us – his very life is bound up in his son’s life.4944:31Whenhe seesthe boyis notwith us,50 he will die, and your servantswill bring downthe gray hairof your servantour fatherin sorrowto the grave.44:32Indeed,51your servantpledged securityfor the boywithmy father, saying, ‘IfI do notbringhim back to you, then I will bear the blamebefore my fatherallmy life.’